Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Animal Rescue & Welfare
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Protecting the Lake
I live just a short walk from a beautiful lake, and visiting it has always been my favourite way to relax after a busy week at school. However, a few months ago, my usual Saturday morning walk was completely ruined. While I was taking photos of the scenery, I noticed something shiny hiding in the bushes. When I looked closer, I was shocked to find several sharp fishing hooks and long pieces of clear plastic fishing line left behind on the ground. I felt incredibly annoyed that visitors could be so careless with their dangerous rubbish.
As I was picking up the plastic string, a terrible thing happened right in front of me. A young duck walked into the bushes and suddenly became totally trapped in a hidden piece of fishing line. The poor creature panicked and started making loud, frightened noises as it tried to escape. I slowly approached the bird, trying my best not to scare it further. It took me ten very stressful minutes of careful work to gently remove the tight string from its leg. Fortunately, the duck wasn’t badly hurt and quickly swam away.
Although the duck was safe, I couldn’t stop thinking about the incident on my way home. I realised that if I hadn’t been there, the situation would have ended very differently. I knew that simply complaining to my parents about the messy fishermen wasn’t going to solve the problem. I decided that I needed to do something practical and proactive to prevent this from happening to other animals.
The following weekend, I spent hours using my computer to design bright, eye-catching warning signs. The posters kindly asked people to take their fishing lines home and explained the serious danger they caused to local wildlife. With permission from the local council, I attached the signs to wooden posts all around the lake. I also tied small, empty plastic bottles nearby so people had a safe place to throw away their used hooks. To my delight, the area has been much cleaner recently. This experience has shown me that anyone can make their local area better if they are willing to take action.
1 Why was the writer’s weekend walk ruined?
(A) He lost a shiny item he was trying to photograph.
(B) He discovered harmful litter left by other people.
(C) He was told off for leaving rubbish in the bushes.
(D) He had a busy week at school and felt too tired.
2 What happened when the writer was picking up the plastic line?
(A) A duck tried to attack him from the bushes.
(B) He got a sharp fishing hook stuck in his own leg.
(C) He had to rescue an animal that was caught in the rubbish.
(D) A scared bird made him drop his camera in the water.
3 After the rescue, what did the writer realise?
(A) Complaining to his family was the best way to get help.
(B) He wanted to stop people from fishing at the lake entirely.
(C) The duck would probably get caught in the exact same place again.
(D) He had to take personal responsibility to protect the wildlife.
4 What was the result of the writer’s posters?
(A) The local council gave him a reward for his hard work.
(B) Fishermen started using the plastic bottles to catch fish.
(C) The environment around the water improved significantly.
(D) People ignored the signs and continued leaving hooks.
5 What would the writer write in his diary about his experience?
(A) “The fishermen at the lake were so angry about my posters, but I’m glad I stood up to them.”
(B) “Seeing the duck get trapped was awful, but it made me act. I’m proud that my signs have made the lake a safer place.”
(C) “Rescuing that duck was terrifying. I think I’ll stop walking by the lake because it’s too upsetting to see the rubbish.”
(D) “I’m so pleased the council put up warning signs for me. Now I can finally enjoy taking photos in peace.”
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In the first paragraph, the writer explains that his walk was ruined because he was “shocked to find several sharp fishing hooks and long pieces of clear plastic fishing line left behind,” which matches discovering harmful litter.
2 C – In the second paragraph, the writer states that a duck “became totally trapped in a hidden piece of fishing line” and he had to spend ten minutes “to gently remove the tight string from its leg.”
3 D – In the third paragraph, the writer realises that complaining wouldn’t solve the problem and decides that he “needed to do something practical and proactive to prevent this from happening,” taking personal responsibility.
4 C – In the final paragraph, the writer notes that after putting up the signs and bottles, “the area has been much cleaner recently,” meaning the environment significantly improved.
5 B – This option successfully synthesizes the global narrative: the writer was deeply affected by an awful incident with a duck, which motivated him to take proactive action, resulting in a cleaner and safer local environment.
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
My Veganuary Challenge
I have always been a huge fan of meat. Burgers, sausages, and roast chicken were my favourite meals, and I could hardly imagine dinner without them. However, in late December, I watched a documentary about animal welfare and farming. It made me feel quite sad about how animals are treated. Because of this, I decided to take part in ‘Veganuary’. The idea is to eat absolutely no animal products for the whole month of January. I thought it would be a useful experiment, although I expected it to be a bit difficult.
The first week was much harder than I had imagined. Because I didn’t know what to prepare, I just ate plain salads and basic vegetables every day. My meals were incredibly boring, and I constantly felt hungry. By Wednesday, I was experiencing terrible cravings for my favourite meat dishes. When my family had a delicious roast dinner on Sunday, I almost gave up completely. I honestly believed that vegans just ate tasteless food and that the rest of the month would be impossible to finish.
Fortunately, my attitude changed when I started looking for advice on the internet. I found several websites with amazing vegan recipes and realised my mistake. I hadn’t been using any herbs or spices! I immediately bought some new ingredients, like beans, lentils, and different sauces. I spent my weekend learning how to make a spicy vegan curry and a rich mushroom pasta. To my surprise, the kitchen smelled fantastic, and the food was incredibly tasty. I suddenly discovered that plant-based meals could be just as exciting as meat dishes.
By the end of January, I felt healthier and much more energetic. Before this challenge, I rarely helped in the kitchen, but now my cooking skills have improved significantly. I have even started cooking dinner for my parents twice a week, and they absolutely love my new recipes. Although February has arrived and the official challenge is over, my diet has completely transformed. While I might eat meat occasionally in the future, I plan to continue cooking mostly plant-based meals because it is great for the animals and amazing for my health.
1 Why did the writer decide to try Veganuary?
(A) He wanted to learn how to cook new types of food.
(B) He wanted to protect animals after seeing a TV programme.
(C) His family suggested they all do a useful experiment together.
(D) He wanted to stop eating burgers and sausages to lose weight.
2 How did the writer feel during the first week of January?
(A) Surprised that his family cooked special meals for him.
(B) Annoyed because he couldn’t find any fresh vegetables.
(C) Ready to stop the challenge because his meals were uninteresting.
(D) Excited to prove that vegan food wasn’t tasteless.
3 What happened when the writer looked on the internet?
(A) He understood that he needed to add more flavour to his cooking.
(B) He bought some expensive vegan meals from a food website.
(C) He discovered that beans and lentils were unhealthy to eat.
(D) He found a group of vegans who helped him make a curry.
4 What does the writer say about his current situation?
(A) He has decided he will never eat meat again.
(B) He is disappointed that the official challenge has finished.
(C) He has become a much better cook and changed his eating habits.
(D) He prefers cooking for his parents instead of for himself.
5 What would the writer write in his diary at the end of January?
(A) I’m so relieved Veganuary is over! I missed my favourite burgers too much, and I’m glad I don’t have to eat plain salads anymore.
(B) My cooking skills have definitely improved, but I’m sad that my family didn’t enjoy the spicy plant-based meals I made for them.
(C) Trying a vegan diet was quite easy from the start, but I quickly realised that I still prefer the taste of roast chicken to vegetables.
(D) This month was an amazing journey. Although it started badly, learning to cook tasty vegan food has changed the way I eat forever.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – Paragraph 1 states that the writer decided to take part in Veganuary because he watched a “documentary about animal welfare” and felt sad about “how animals are treated.”
2 C – In Paragraph 2, the writer explains that his meals were “incredibly boring” and that he “almost gave up completely” because he was just eating plain salads.
3 A – Paragraph 3 details how the writer “realised my mistake” because he “hadn’t been using any herbs or spices” and immediately started using new ingredients to make his food tasty.
4 C – In Paragraph 4, the writer notes that his “cooking skills have improved significantly” and that his “diet has completely transformed.”
5 D – This option accurately captures the global meaning of the passage: the initial struggle, the successful development of new culinary skills, and a long-lasting, positive change in his diet.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Volunteering at the Donkey Sanctuary
Last summer, I wanted to do something useful during my school holidays. Because I’ve always loved animals, I decided to volunteer at a local donkey sanctuary. I imagined my days there would be quite relaxing. I thought I would just stand in the sunshine, feed them carrots, and brush their soft coats. However, I soon discovered that caring for rescued animals involves a lot more hard work than I had originally expected.
My main job was mucking out the stables, which meant cleaning up the dirty straw and replacing it with fresh bedding. It was exhausting, smelly work, but the hardest part was actually dealing with the donkeys themselves. They seemed incredibly stubborn. Whenever I tried to gently lead them out of the stables so I could clean, they completely refused to move. I pulled their ropes, but they just planted their feet firmly on the ground. To be honest, I started to feel quite annoyed and wondered if I had made a mistake coming here.
One morning, the sanctuary manager, Sarah, saw me struggling with a large brown donkey named Barnaby. I told her how frustrated I was. Sarah explained that these donkeys weren’t being stubborn just to annoy me. Before coming to the sanctuary, they had been forced to carry heavy loads for hours every day without enough food or water. Many of them had been hit by their previous owners. They were deeply traumatized and terrified of humans. Suddenly, everything made sense.
Learning about their terrible past completely changed my attitude. Instead of feeling angry, I felt a deep sadness for what they had suffered. I realised that if I had been treated that badly, I wouldn’t trust anyone either. I stopped trying to force them to move and started being much more patient. I would sit quietly in the corner of the stable until they felt safe enough to approach me.
Now, looking back at my time there, I feel incredibly proud of the progress the donkeys and I have made. Barnaby even lets me scratch behind his ears now. Although the physical work is still tiring, I don’t mind it at all. I have learned that gaining the trust of a frightened animal is one of the most rewarding experiences you can have. I will definitely return to the sanctuary next summer.
1 Why did the writer decide to volunteer at the sanctuary?
(A) She wanted to do something helpful during her school break.
(B) She needed to learn how to ride and brush donkeys.
(C) She was looking for a difficult physical challenge.
(D) She wanted to spend all her time outside in the sunshine.
2 How did the writer feel about the donkeys at first?
(A) Frightened because they were so large and strong.
(B) Frustrated because they wouldn’t do what she wanted.
(C) Surprised because they were so friendly and active.
(D) Bored because cleaning their stables took too long.
3 What did Sarah tell the writer about the donkeys?
(A) They were naturally lazy animals.
(B) They had behaved badly for their previous owners.
(C) They were afraid of people because of past cruelty.
(D) They needed more food and water to be healthy.
4 After talking to Sarah, the writer decided to
(A) ask to do a different job at the sanctuary.
(B) give the donkeys extra food so they would trust her.
(C) wait calmly for the donkeys to come to her.
(D) force the donkeys to move out of the stables.
5 What would the writer write in her diary at the end of the summer?
(A) I’m glad the holidays are over. The work at the sanctuary was just too smelly and exhausting, and the animals were too stubborn.
(B) The donkeys are finally listening to me. I’ve taught them how to carry loads properly without getting tired or frightened.
(C) I’ll never forget my time at the sanctuary. The work was hard, but showing love to animals that have suffered so much was amazing.
(D) It was a nice experience, but I think next year I’ll choose an easier volunteering job where I can just feed and pet the animals.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 A – The writer states in paragraph 1 that she “wanted to do something useful during my school holidays.”
2 B – In paragraph 2, the writer mentions that the donkeys “completely refused to move” and that she “started to feel quite annoyed.”
3 C – In paragraph 3, Sarah explains that the donkeys had been overworked and hit by previous owners, leaving them “deeply traumatized and terrified of humans.”
4 C – In paragraph 4, the writer explains her new approach: “I would sit quietly in the corner of the stable until they felt safe enough to approach me.”
5 C – This captures the global meaning of the text. The writer acknowledges the physical work was tiring but feels that gaining the trust of the abused animals was incredibly rewarding, reflecting her shift from frustration to empathy.